WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD JUNE 24, 2016

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks.

No matter what, you won’t be flamed and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the Weekly Gardening Thread. Planting, Harvest to Table(recipes)preserving, good living - there is no telling where it will go and... that is part of the fun and interest. Jump in and join us!

NOTE: This is a once a week ping list. We do post to the thread during the week. Links to related articles and discussions which might be of interest are welcomed, so feel free to post them at any time.

My left leg was locked up for a while. Couldn’t trim my toenails. Dr. sent me to Physical Therapy, so that’s all better. I have trouble on the stairs to the basement.

The stairs outside are terrace and only about half the height, so I go outside to go up and down the stairs. Going down is worse than going up.

I don’t get enough REM. I read that is why my memory is so strange. Some things I remember, and stuff I want to remember, I can’t. When you don’t get enough REM, some things don’t get transferred.

My parents had a lot of strokes. That can be so debilitating, and that is my biggest fear, I guess. As long as I can walk, talk, and have relatively good brain function, then that’s good enough.

I didn't mean to overwhelm you with too much to read. I can barely still trim my toenails but dread doing it because I have a fungus one or two and have to use those heavy-duty clippers I got at Walgreens, otherwise regular toenail clippers.

I should do physical therapy but don't see how it would overcome the pain plus each session would be over $40 co-pay.

Going down steps is the hardest especially if steep. I have taken to using a plastic snow shovel which looks ridiculous but helps more than I think a cane with "feet" would and less clumsy than a walker. And I saw a nice walker on sale, with a seat and arms which I need for leverage. But heavy to fold up and put in car or drag up staps.

I need rails everywhere though unless level and good surface. And I can do my back stairs much better which aren't so steep. Godsend that I had rails and new steps poured in about 2005.

REM I go to bed and take my meds too late. The meds seem to make my REM start when I should be getting up like a normal person. So I sleep until 12 noon or 2 even.

I was not overwhelmed, and anyway I did make a long reply, so I’d call it even. Since I’m on Medicare, and have supplement F, the Physical Therapy didn’t cost me anymore out of pocket.

I was surprised how much it helped, and my knees were hurting, but they took that into account when they planned the treatment.

Some days, I have to use a cane. That happens when one or the other of my feet has shooting pains so bad, that I can’t put any weight on it. So I either use the cane or the furniture to hold my weight.

I have a nice walker with a seat, that I sometimes have to use when in the kitchen. It just depends on my feet. It belonged to my mom, and I used it for my Dad after his stroke. Figured I should just hang on to it.

Maybe I could buy part F in December and get some PT. I sit too much and have gone downhill very fast for what an active person I was. My right knee started hurting when I was biking which was pretty far back now. I couldn't handle hills and the heat any more.

I have a plastic arm chair in the kitchen so I can sit part of the time, works great for me now. Also a little wooden bookstand for a small work table I can move around easily. I can get around the upper level of the house pretty well still. It's the darn steps. I'm afraid to go down to the basement, and doing laundry is now not feasible with my machines down there.

My shovel works so well except I've gotten a little afraid to even go down 2 steps at the end of the front walk without something firmer to hold onto. You were smart to hang onto the walker. I'm not ready to get one quite yet. But I don't dare walk too far for fear I can't get back to house or car. I hate this getting old. Never expected to live to this point, frankly, so never was psychologically prepared for what I am going through now.

I think I will get a new keyboard and try to move on as best I can. I want one that will interface with my computer. It would give me something to look forward to since I can't garden any more or even do much cooking which I loved to do. And I haven't lost any weight in particular either from all the sweets I'm not eating :-(

I have a friend whose laundry was down in the basement, and she had to have knee replacement surgery, and got to where she couldn’t make it up and down those stairs.

She had a closet in the hallway, and had a stackable washer dryer unit put in there so that she could do the laundry. Sometimes, I just wash stuff out real quick in the bathroom sink, and hang it on a hanger over the bath tub.

Just don’t have that much laundry, and I don’t like to waste water filling up the tub. It only has one level - full tub.

I understand about being careful with walking. I have osteoporosis, and don’t need any falls. I won’t even go outside in the winter, if there is the tiniest bit of ice.

I do make myself do the PT exercises to make sure to keep my range of motion.

Hate to pay a plumber again after just having major work done to my bathtub which didn't particularly get the water running better like it used to, kind of upset about it. Maybe I should look for something else although it could kill me to walk away from the home I have loved and holds so many memories.

I got these a couple years ago. They have to be put on something with a tight fit so they won't slip off from motion. It's the only way I dare walk on the ice in the alley to take my garbage out.

You even have to be careful on those, too, because they can catch in cracks.

Stabilicers at Amazon - I got the blue ones

I would have to take them off to walk in the store and they aren't much fun to drive with in a stick shift. I usually carry easy shoes to swap while I'm in anywhere.

I'm less steady on my feet since I got them so I don't know. Sudden changes or bumps just regular walking or slight slopes can throw me off balance.

Do you have to fend for yourself pretty much like I do?

Should get to bed but I'm not sleepy.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.